Outdoor notes: Access to Hudson Lake closed due to poor road conditions

LINCOLN, Neb. – Access to Hudson Lake in Cherry County temporarily is closed because of poor road conditions.

Hudson Lake, which is about 24 miles southwest of Valentine, is available for public recreation when conditions allow through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Open Fields and Waters Program, including daytime ice-fishing from December through February.

Conditions will be assessed on a weekly basis to determine the lake’s reopening.

Box Butte WMA opening for firewood collection

ALLIANCE, Neb. -- Firewood harvest is usually prohibited at Box Butte Wildlife Management Area, but people with authorization will be allowed to collect it Feb. 1-March 10.

Non-commercial firewood users who receive permission from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission may cut any fallen dead timber in specific areas during the six-week period. Those with the authorization form will receive a map of areas open for harvest and vehicle access, and will be urged to use safe practices while cutting. Allowing people to collect firewood not only aids in land management of targeted areas the property, but also provides an opportunity for members of the public to fuel their fireplaces.

The free authorization form may be obtained by contacting Hunter Baillie, Game and Parks district wildlife manager, or Justin Powell, wildlife biologist, at 308-763-2940, or by stopping by the Game and Parks Commission’s northwest district office at 299 Husker Road in Alliance.

Game and Parks seeks input on proposed waterfowl changes for 2021-2022

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is seeking input on proposed changes to duck zone and goose unit boundaries for the 2021-2022 hunting seasons.

Based on input received last November, Game and Parks is proposing boundary changes to several duck zones and two dark (Canada) goose units. The duck zone changes would affect areas in portions of Adams, Buffalo, Butler, Colfax, Custer, Dodge, Furnas, Gage, Gosper, Greeley, Hamilton, Harlan, Holt, Howard, Jefferson, Merrick, Otoe, Platte, Polk, Rock, Saline, Saunders, Sherman, Valley, and Washington counties.

Proposed changes to dark goose units are in Brown and Cherry counties, and in Washington County. In addition, there is a proposal to combine the current Panhandle, Platte River, East and Niobrara Units into one unit.

Hunters can find more information and provide input by visiting OutdoorNebraska.gov/duckgoosezones.

Hunters can download maps and follow instructions provided to submit input. Game and Parks will accept input until Feb. 29. Input from this round will determine what changes will be forwarded to the Game and Parks Board of Commissioners and, ultimately, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Unfortunately, we could not make changes to all the responses we received in November,” said Mark Vrtiska, Game and Parks’ waterfowl program manager. “We examined each suggestion and there are a lot of factors to consider before taking a suggested change and proposing it. Thanks to all the hunters that provided input.”

Public may rent hunting equipment at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunting equipment now is available for rent by the public at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Outdoor Adventure Center.

Rental has been offered to the university’s students for about a year, and recently expanded to allow the public to rent the equipment, too.

Micaela Rahe, R3 (Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation) coordinator with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said this is the first program of its kind in the state. “There are hunting gear rental programs for the public in other states, but until now nothing in Nebraska.”

The available gear is a pop-up blind, layout blind, duck decoy set of 14 birds, and jake/hen turkey decoy combination. Each is individually available to the public for $6/day, $12/three days or $16/week.

The equipment is available through a grant partnership between NWTF and the Cabela’s Outdoor Fund.

The primary purpose of the rental program is to allow new hunters to give hunting a try without the need to purchase a lot of gear right away, Rahe said.

To pick up equipment, hunters must visit the Outdoor Adventure Center in person. Reservations may be made over the phone for three-day or seven-day rentals.

The facility is located at 930 N. 14th St. in Lincoln and is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekends. For more information or to make reservations, call the facility at 402-472-4777.

Schramm Education Center hosting Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 15

LINCOLN, Neb. – Bird lovers of all ages can enjoy learning about the birds of Nebraska, getting outside with family and contributing to science on Feb. 15 at the Schramm Education Center’s Great Backyard Bird Count event.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual citizen science event in which participants across the nation count birds and submit checklists to be used by researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society.

“It’s a great nationwide effort to help birds that anyone can get involved with,” said outdoor education specialist Amber Schiltz. “From people who enjoy birds to expert birders, we can all make a difference for bird conservation while having fun.”

The 9-11 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m. sessions include instruction on bird identification basics, a feeder watch count and guided bird hike count. Participants are encouraged to choose one session to attend.

General admission to Schramm Education Center is required to participate. Families may stay and count birds for as much time as they wish, however it is recommended to arrive on time for an event introduction. Participants should dress for the weather. A limited amount of binoculars will be available.

Registration is not required but recommended. Register by calling 402-332-5022, emailing Schiltz at [email protected], or signing up at the Great Backyard Bird Count at Schramm Facebook page.

Schramm Education Center is located at 21502 W. Highway 31 in Gretna. For more information, call the center at 402-332-5022.

Plan fishing trip using Commission publications

LINCOLN, Neb. – Plan a fishing trip with the help of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Planning means preparation, and the best way to prepare is to review regulations and research locations. The Commission’s 2020 Fishing Guide is a summary of regulations and orders, and includes a section detailing the state’s public fishing areas. The 2020 Fishing Forecast provides a look at where the best fishing, and maybe the biggest fish, may be found in Nebraska based on 2019 lake sampling.

Both publications are online at OutdoorNebraska.org and printed copies may be picked up wherever fishing permits are sold. The same website has additional planning tools, such as a fish stocking database, lake contour maps, and other fishing publications. Fishing permits also may be purchased at that site.